Recognising individuals driving innovation and excellence in the industry

Being recognized as a Rising Star is both an honor and a responsibility. It is encouraging to see the growing impact that geospatial technologies, digital twins, reality capture, and data-driven decision-making are having across industries and communities worldwide.

For me, this recognition reflects not only my personal journey but also the collective efforts of the teams, mentors, clients, and colleagues I have had the privilege to work with. I hope it inspires other emerging professionals to continue pushing boundaries, embracing innovation, and using geospatial technologies to solve real-world challenges and create lasting impact.

Abdourahmane Tahir

Being recognized as a Geospatial World Rising Star 2026 is both an honour and a humbling milestone for me. It affirms the importance of building practical geospatial solutions that solve real challenges and create measurable impact. For me, this recognition is not just personal; it reflects the dedication of the teams, clients, and partners I have worked with over the years. It is also a reminder that innovation from Africa has a strong place in shaping the future of the global geospatial industry. I am deeply grateful to Geospatial World for this recognition.

Wahome Victor

Being recognized as one of the Geospatial World 50 Rising Stars 2026 is a tremendous honor and a meaningful milestone in my professional journey. This recognition reflects not only my personal dedication but also the growing impact of geospatial technologies in addressing real-world challenges.

It motivates me to continue advancing innovation in GIS, remote sensing, spatial data governance, and geospatial standardization. I am grateful to Geospatial World for this acknowledgment and hope it inspires emerging professionals to pursue excellence, embrace innovation, and contribute to the sustainable development of our communities through geospatial science.

Melese Getenet

Receiving this award was an incredible experience! A moment of honour, gratitude, and deep reflection. It reinforced my belief that collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential to building a sustainable world.

This milestone was a testament to a lifelong journey shared with so many amazing people. From starting in Syria to thriving in Sweden, this wouldn’t be possible without those who inspired and supported me. I’m proud to be among the Millennial and Gen Z leaders reshaping our industry and thankful to be a part of this collaborative geospatial community!

Mohamad Alnasser

Being recognized as a Geospatial World Rising Star 2026 is both an honor and a motivation to continue pushing the boundaries of geospatial innovation. I am grateful to Geospatial World for this recognition and look forward to contributing further to the advancement of the geospatial ecosystem.

Aman Chaudhary

GIS and Remote Sensing have become integral to every sector, enabling transparency, informed decision-making, and the digitization of diverse forms of data. The GWF serves as a premier networking platform for GIS professionals, offering valuable insights into current and future projects, as well as global developments across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. It was a privilege to be recognized among the 50 Rising Stars, and attending GWF 2026 in Amsterdam was an immensely rewarding experience. The event provided exceptional opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, and capacity building, further enriching my professional growth and global perspective. I strongly encourage early-career GIS and Remote Sensing professionals to attend this event and take advantage of the unique opportunities it offers for learning, collaboration, and career development.

Dr. Harsh Shah

Being recognised as a Geospatial World Rising Star 2026 means far more than receiving an award. It is a moment that made me pause and feel genuinely grateful for the work. At GWF, I met inspiring professionals who care about the same problems I do, from floods and climate risk to building more resilient infrastructure. Many of those conversations have continued well beyond the event, with some growing into meaningful collaborations and friendships. This recognition encourages me to keep pushing the boundaries of innovation, and I am grateful to be part of such a remarkable and supportive community.

Nirdesh Kumar Sharma

Being recognized as a Rising Star at GWF 2026 is a deeply meaningful and motivating honor. This recognition reflects not only my individual journey but also the support of my mentors, colleagues, and the geospatial community that continues to inspire me. It strengthens my commitment to using geospatial science and technology for sustainable development, climate action, and community-level decision-making. I am grateful to GWF for this encouragement, and I hope this recognition inspires emerging professionals to pursue innovation with purpose, integrity, and social responsibility.

Anand Sebastian

Firstly, and foremost, from the bottom of my heart, I thank Geospatial World Magazine for the recognition of my experience within this industry over the past decade in various capacities. My intention is that this recognition should serve the benefit of society through geospatial technology, whether through drones, OpenStreetMap, or any other GIS tool present or that I wish to learn and apply. This would be a benefit across many sectors and can also support the outreach activities I wish to conduct. Through this award, I hope to have a sustainable professional future within the geospatial domain in the years to come.

Pawan Muddu

Being recognized as a Rising Star has given me the confidence to lead the ESIP Cloud Computing Cluster and to join the Pangeo Steering Committee and NOAA Data Access and Archive Requirements Working Group. As a member of Development Seed, NASA, and these groups, I recognize a responsibility to listen to the geospatial community and share experiences and best practices with the other groups I am a part of.

Aimee Barciauskas

After the recognition, I was motivated to learn more about geospatial technologies, and I enrolled in a master’s degree after I saw the calibre of the other individuals who were nominated. I also started working as a GIS Technician in order to improve my skills and align my career path with GIS and Data Science.

Tommy Charles

The recognition has, in part, opened up global conversations and opportunities to keep working and brainstorming on diverse health-related issues powered by geospatial technologies.

Peter M Macharia

Being recognized as a Rising Star in 2022 has provided credibility to my career as a consultant. The recognition provided a platform for networking but has also provided external validation and proof of my skills, leadership, and capacity. I am thankful for being a Geospatial World Rising Star.

Juliana McMillan- Wilhoit

The Rising Stars award brought me a lot of new contacts in the geospatial community and encouraged me in the future direction of my work.

Jakub Karas

Being honoured in a historically male-dominated industry showed me that my voice and contributions are welcomed and celebrated! It provided exciting opportunities to network with amazing people and build invaluable connections that have enriched both my personal and professional growth. Becoming a public role model enabled young female professionals to reach out for mentorship and guidance, and it’s been extremely rewarding to empower the next generation of female leaders in Africa.

Clara Mundia

Receiving the Geospatial World Rising Star award has boosted my confidence in what I can accomplish when I set my mind to a goal. It has given me the zeal to go for more. As an early-career professional, it has empowered me to gain recognition and credibility in both my workplace and the industry overall.

Olive Mandalasi